David Phelps

As I was sitting here pondering what to write about on Motivational Monday, I thought about what motivates me to be the best. I then started to think about why anyone would not want to be the best at what they do?

Thinking back, I remember when I was younger and the weekend was the only thing I looked forward to. I was the typical Gen-X youth. To some degree thinking I was dealt a bad hand, that somehow the world owed me more. I then stumbled on to the book, "Think and Grow Rich" by Dr Napoleon Hill. Reading his book was an eye-opening experience for me. It taught me too many lessons to list here. I recommend it to everyone I meet. It is an older book that you can buy used from amazon for about two dollars plus shipping.

How it helped me find the motivation to take charge of my own life, and do all I could do to be a useful person on this earth was amazing. After reading "Think and Grow Rich", I continued to read all of Dr Hill's books. Those books led me to other books and my appetite for reading and increasing my specialized knowledge grew and grew!

I thought it would be interesting to find out what books have opened other Active Rainer's eyes. If there is a special book on self-improvement that changed your life I would love for you to comment about it.

Here's to a profitable week!

You have to love springtime.

The temperature starts to climb,

Flowers begin to bloom,

Birds begin to sing,

and Pitchers and Catchers Report!

I am absolutely a baseball nut! I have been called a purist, disagreeing with the Wild Card, arguing against inter-league and even the World Baseball Classic has been a fly in my soup. But every season I love the game even more. The changes made always seem to be what is best for the game (except the all star game winner getting home field in the world series).

I would like it very much if as a fan you would comment with who your favorite team is, as well as your sworn enemy!

I will start....

I love the New York Mets

I lothe the Atlanta Braves

Here's to another great season!

Most Contractors Don't Like Natural Disasters. I know you find that hard to believe. I mean, what roofer wouldn't like a good hail storm or hurricane? These things create a lot of work in a somewhat slow market right?

Yes it does create a lot of business. It also brings a lot of headache as there are not enough contractors in most areas to handle such an increase in demand. This brings in Storm Chasers (topic for another discussion). Disasters also remove entire neighborhoods and sub-divisions from the home improvement market all at once. When the average roof is replaced every twenty years or so you can see how this may affect the market.

There is also the emotional strain on the homeowners that is transferred to the contractor. Imagine standing on a steep roof and a homeowner comes up your ladder, in tears, begging you to go to their home next to cover the gaping hole in the roof. Every homeowner you see is in terrible shape emotionally.

The last time this happened to me was the tornado that hit Suffolk, Virginia April, 28th of 2008.

The above image used to be a shopping center. It has since been knocked over and rebuilt. The shopping center was full of patrons at the time of the tornado strike.

The above photo is one of HUNDREDS of homes totally destroyed. People who had insufficient insurance had to tear down and sell.

This is a guard rail from the interstate. The interstate is a half mile away. The rail is 20 plus feet in the air.

The good news was not one life was lost. Amazing

While Storm Chasing contractors love disaster, this contractor still has nightmares about one from almost a year ago...

Saturday I was called to a home to estimate a roof replacement and fix some fascia board. The prospect also told me she would have a animal control company there to try and remove a raccoon from her attic.

There was no action as the racoon got out of there before the animal control expert could get to it.

I see evidence of animals in attics at least once a week. Raccoons, Squirrels, Birds and Mice love to have a nice rent free warm spot to rest their heads. The one thing all of the homes have in common is the lack of a perimeter drip edge flashing on the roof. The most common entry point for animals is at the eave. They will sit on top of the gutter and chew back the shingles and plywood until a hole is created large enough for them to crawl through.

This is a picture from my prospects home..

Now in South Eastern Virginia Drip Edge is NOT required as part of building code. I think it should for a few reasons. It stops capillary water damage, covers the gap between the decking and they fascia board left by the builder, and animals don't like aluminum's taste!

I was the only roofer to give the client a drip edge option. She had to think about it.......